Birmingham Sees Highest Homicide Rate Since 2008
Birmingham is approaching its ninetieth homicide for 2015, making this the city’s deadliest year since 2008.
The 87 homicides this year (as of this writing) stops and significantly reverses a three-year decline. In 2014 there were 59, versus 66 in 2013, and 72 in 2012. In the years prior to that, the numbers fluctuated — there were 57 in 2011, down from the 62 in 2010, which was down from 71 in 2009, the 88 in 2008, 93 in 2007 and the 109 in 2006. Ten years ago, in 2005, there were 105 homicides in Birmingham. (Nick Patterson, writing in WELD)
Why is this happening and what does it say about the city and the greater community? For more, WBHM’s Rachel Osier Lindley spoke with Nick Patterson, editor of the weekly newspaper WELD. Patterson discusses why officials think the homicide rate is up, and what the City of Birmingham is planning with its newly-declared war on crime.
Elon Musk’s X faces bans and investigations over nonconsensual bikini images
After the social media app's AI chatbot started generating sexualized images of women and children, two countries have blocked it and several more have launched investigations.
Trump administration tells states to end ‘orphan tax’ on foster kids
There's a growing move to end what some call "the orphan tax" and stop states from taking benefit checks from children and youth in foster care.
Flu shot recommendation for kids dropped just as the illness rages
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention dropped its advice that kids get an annual flu shot at a time when flu cases and hospitalizations are surging.
Trump calls for a 10% cap on credit card interest rates
With credit card interest rates near modern highs, President Trump says he wants to cap the rates for one year.
Playing Grateful Dead songs with Bob Weir: Don Was remembers
The Grammy winner and Blue Note label head recalls the unique challenges and rewards he faced when the late Bob Weir recruited him for an intimate new project in 2018.
A judge orders HHS to restore children’s health funding as a lawsuit continues
The judge ordered the restoration of nearly $12 million in funding to the American Academy of Pediatrics, including money for rural health care and the identification of disabilities in children.
